NewKerala.com

MP's School Merger Plan: Why Small Schools Face Closure Amid Budget Debate

The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to merge its primary schools that have very low enrollment. Schools with fewer than ten students will be combined with a larger school located within one kilometer. The state's Education Minister says this move will make better use of teachers and infrastructure. It was announced during the Winter Session of the Assembly, which also saw debates on farmer compensation and the state budget.

Key Points: MP to Merge Primary Schools With Under 10 Students

  • Government primary schools with under 10 pupils will merge with larger nearby schools
  • Teachers will also be relocated to ensure optimal staff utilization
  • The policy aims to improve student interaction and resource efficiency
  • The merger radius is set within one kilometer for accessibility
2 min read

Govt primary schools with fewer than 10 students to be merged with larger ones: MP Minister

Madhya Pradesh announces merger of govt primary schools with fewer than 10 students within a 1 km radius to optimize resources and improve learning.

"Teachers from such under-enrolled schools would also be shifted to bigger schools to ensure optimum use of staff and infrastructure. - School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh"

Bhopal, Dec 4

Government-run primary schools in Madhya Pradesh with fewer than 10 students will be merged with a nearby larger school located within a 1 km radius, School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh informed the Assembly on Thursday.

He said the step aims to improve resource utilisation and enhance student interaction.

Responding to a question raised by MLA Amar Singh Yadav during the Winter Session, Minister Singh added that teachers from such under-enrolled schools would also be shifted to bigger schools to ensure optimum use of staff and infrastructure.

During Question Hour, Congress MLA Babu Jandel raised the issue of compensation for farmers for damaged crops in Sheopur district. He claimed that several farmers have not yet received the funds released by the state government.

"Farmers in Sheopur district were supposed to get compensation of Rs 16,000 per hectare, but many farmers are yet to receive funds in their bank accounts," Sheopur Congress MLA Jandel said.

The State's Revenue Minister Karan Singh Verma, while responding to Jandel's claim, said that he would inquire into the matter personally to ensure that all farmers get compensation. He also accepted that some farmers had yet to receive funds in their bank accounts.

Notably, on November 27, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had transferred Rs 238.78 crore to the bank accounts of over three lakh farmers as part of compensation for paddy crops damaged due to heavy rain a few weeks ago.

The fund was released to the farmers of seven districts, such as Sheopur, Morena, Harda, Vidisha, Narmadapuram, Dhar and Khandwa.

Meanwhile, the House is scheduled to debate the second supplementary budget presented on Tuesday by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Jagdish Devda. The Rs 13,476.94 crore outlay includes Rs 8,448.57 crore under the revenue head and Rs 5,028.37 crore under the capital head.

Major provisions include Rs 4,000 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural Development), Rs 1,794 crore for the Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana (Women & Child Development), and Rs 500 crore under the Bhavantar/flat rate scheme (Farmers’ Welfare & Agriculture Development).

The five-day Winter Session will conclude on Friday.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Good move for resource optimization, but what about the youngest children? For a 5-year-old in a remote area, walking 1 km alone to a new school is a concern. Hope the government ensures safe transport or escorts. The intent is right, but execution needs care.
A
Amar W
The real issue is the farmer compensation! CM transferred 238 crore, but why is it stuck? Babu Jandel is right to raise this. If promises aren't kept, how will farmers trust the system? Minister Verma saying he will "inquire personally" is just talk. Show the results!
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the budget allocations. Rs 1794 crore for Ladli Behna Yojana is significant. Empowering women financially has a direct impact on children's education and family health. Hope the funds reach the intended beneficiaries without leakage.
K
Karthik V
Instead of just merging schools, why not investigate WHY enrollment is below 10? Is it migration to cities? Are parents opting for private schools? Address the root cause. Otherwise, we'll keep doing these administrative fixes every few years.
M
Meera T
As a teacher, I've seen both sides. Small schools lack a competitive environment. But in a big school, individual attention is less. The government must ensure the merged schools have enough teachers and classrooms. Don't just shift the problem.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50